Multisensory Integration and Internal Models for Sensing Gravity Effects in Primates
Joint Authors
Maffei, Vincenzo
La Scaleia, Barbara
Indovina, Iole
Zago, Myrka
Lacquaniti, Francesco
Bosco, Gianfranco
Gravano, Silvio
Source
Issue
Vol. 2014, Issue 2014 (31 Dec. 2014), pp.1-10, 10 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2014-07-01
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
10
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Gravity is crucial for spatial perception, postural equilibrium, and movement generation.
The vestibular apparatus is the main sensory system involved in monitoring gravity.
Hair cells in the vestibular maculae respond to gravitoinertial forces, but they cannot distinguish between linear accelerations and changes of head orientation relative to gravity.
The brain deals with this sensory ambiguity (which can cause some lethal airplane accidents) by combining several cues with the otolith signals: angular velocity signals provided by the semicircular canals, proprioceptive signals from muscles and tendons, visceral signals related to gravity, and visual signals.
In particular, vision provides both static and dynamic signals about body orientation relative to the vertical, but it poorly discriminates arbitrary accelerations of moving objects.
However, we are able to visually detect the specific acceleration of gravity since early infancy.
This ability depends on the fact that gravity effects are stored in brain regions which integrate visual, vestibular, and neck proprioceptive signals and combine this information with an internal model of gravity effects.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Lacquaniti, Francesco& Bosco, Gianfranco& Gravano, Silvio& Indovina, Iole& La Scaleia, Barbara& Maffei, Vincenzo…[et al.]. 2014. Multisensory Integration and Internal Models for Sensing Gravity Effects in Primates. BioMed Research International،Vol. 2014, no. 2014, pp.1-10.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-485356
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Lacquaniti, Francesco…[et al.]. Multisensory Integration and Internal Models for Sensing Gravity Effects in Primates. BioMed Research International No. 2014 (2014), pp.1-10.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-485356
American Medical Association (AMA)
Lacquaniti, Francesco& Bosco, Gianfranco& Gravano, Silvio& Indovina, Iole& La Scaleia, Barbara& Maffei, Vincenzo…[et al.]. Multisensory Integration and Internal Models for Sensing Gravity Effects in Primates. BioMed Research International. 2014. Vol. 2014, no. 2014, pp.1-10.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-485356
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-485356